Livestock ministry, NIAS align to drive investment in animal agriculture

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has moved to deepen public private collaboration in Nigeria’s livestock value chain, announcing plans to partner the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science for its 2026 international conference on animal agriculture.

Idi Mukhtar Maiha minister of livestock development said the conference will serve as a platform to unlock investment, innovation, and financing opportunities across the sector.

He spoke in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the institute’s local organising committee led by Grace Jokthan chairman of the committee.

Maiha said the event will feature technical sessions and exhibitions designed to connect producers, processors, financiers, and development partners.

He urged private investors, financial institutions, and multilateral agencies to support the conference, positioning it as a catalyst for scaling commercial livestock production and improving value chain efficiency.

The minister noted that the event, shifted from 2025 to 2026, will require coordinated planning to meet strong international expectations.

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He added that state offices of the ministry will be mobilised to ensure nationwide participation and alignment with federal livestock development priorities.

Jokthan said the conference will convene industry operators, researchers, and policymakers from across Africa to advance best practices in animal agriculture.

She said discussions will focus on productivity, sustainability, and market integration, with expected spillovers for job creation and economic growth.

She added that preparations are underway, including logistics, partnerships, and participant engagement.

Call for papers and abstract submissions have opened, alongside targeted awareness campaigns to drive attendance and stakeholder participation.

The planned partnership signals a broader push by government and industry actors to position livestock as a bankable segment within Nigeria’s agribusiness landscape, amid rising demand for protein and growing interest in structured agricultural investments.

By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.